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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: press · leaves · roll · season · swing · plane · wound · toast

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. swing — music
  3. plane — a tool
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. swing — in golf
  8. roll — a list
  9. season — of the year
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. wound — an injury
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. toast — bread
  16. press — newspapers
  17. press — a publisher
  18. swing — to play on
  19. wound — an injury
  20. season — in sport
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. roll — a cake
  24. leaves — to go away

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com